diff --git a/evm/src/cpu/kernel/asm/balance.asm b/evm/src/cpu/kernel/asm/balance.asm
index 6ce88cc4..1c7fb400 100644
--- a/evm/src/cpu/kernel/asm/balance.asm
+++ b/evm/src/cpu/kernel/asm/balance.asm
@@ -1,3 +1,20 @@
+global sys_balance:
+    // stack: kexit_info, address
+    // TODO: assuming a cold account access for now.
+    %charge_gas_const(@GAS_COLDACCOUNTACCESS)
+    SWAP1
+    // stack: address, kexit_info
+    %balance
+    // stack: balance, kexit_info
+    SWAP1
+    EXIT_KERNEL
+
+%macro balance
+    %stack (address) -> (address, %%after)
+    %jump(balance)
+%%after:
+%endmacro
+
 global balance:
     // stack: address, retdest
     %mpt_read_state_trie
@@ -13,11 +30,17 @@ retzero:
     %stack (account_ptr, retdest) -> (retdest, 0)
     JUMP
 
+global sys_selfbalance:
+    // stack: kexit_info
+    %charge_gas_const(@GAS_LOW)
+    %selfbalance
+    // stack: balance, kexit_info
+    SWAP1
+    EXIT_KERNEL
 
-global selfbalance:
-    // stack: retdest
+%macro selfbalance
+    PUSH %%after
     %address
-    PUSH balance
-    // stack: balance, address, retdest
-    JUMP
-
+    %jump(balance)
+%%after:
+%endmacro
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/evm/src/cpu/kernel/asm/core/syscall_stubs.asm b/evm/src/cpu/kernel/asm/core/syscall_stubs.asm
index 26281eea..610c7502 100644
--- a/evm/src/cpu/kernel/asm/core/syscall_stubs.asm
+++ b/evm/src/cpu/kernel/asm/core/syscall_stubs.asm
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@ global sys_sgt:
     PANIC
 global sys_sar:
     PANIC
-global sys_balance:
-    PANIC
 global sys_origin:
     PANIC
 global sys_calldatasize:
@@ -50,8 +48,6 @@ global sys_chainid:
     // stack: chain_id, kexit_info
     SWAP1
     EXIT_KERNEL
-global sys_selfbalance:
-    PANIC
 global sys_basefee:
     PANIC
 global sys_log0: